A comparison of at-home and in-office bleaching.

Reprinted from Dentistry Today (2000:19(4):44-53), c2000, Dentistry Today, Inc. Introduction In-office bleaching of teeth has been in use for approximately 125 years, with little change in science or technique during that time. When at-home "nightguard" bleaching using carbamide peroxide was introduced in 1989, it appeared that the in-office approach would quickly become extinct. However, there has been a recent resurgence in in-office bleaching, primarily due to aggressive marketing of various "high-tech" light sources such as lasers and plasma arc lights, coupled with claims of reducing bleaching time, even to a single office visit. This article will examine at-home and inoffice bleaching in terms of efficacy, safety and cost, and discuss their clinical indications and contraindications. Advantages and disadvantages of both techniques will be assessed, and treatment parameters as well as coping with side effects will be addressed. This author bases the following information on a thorough analysis of the literature combined with personal research and clinical experience.